From Minnie's Ditch To John's Ditching

Main menu

Tag Archives: Durell

“With the hotel, (the) project where Goodie’s currently is, the Holman Building and the apartments that are going to be built on Laurel Avenue, it’s going to be a few years but we’re going to have a vibrant downtown,” said Fischer. “It’s going to help the city a lot.”

“It’s a completely different design,” said Mark Brodeur, director of community and economic development, about the newest plans. “The other Victorian look didn’t mesh well in the immediate neighborhood. This design meshes a lot better with the museum and the library.”

Councilman Rudy Fischer also mentioned the building’s change of color.

“We have these tan buildings in the library and museum and he had this greenish/gray color,” said Fisher, noting the latest change in hue.

“The design has a contextual problem – context meaning the design within the realm you’re placing the building,” said Mark Brodeur, director of community and economic development, noting that the nearby Holman Building, museum and library each have a certain design. “They believe the Victorian architectural of the proposal didn’t fit within its context.”

Since its official approval last week, residents had 10 days to appeal the decision, which would then put the project into the hands of the P.G. City Council. Even if the council approved it, the project currently has no water credits. Those would have to come from the city’s Local Water Project.

“The council first has to decide what (water) will be allotted to commercial use and residential use from the reclamation site,” said Aeschliman. “Then it becomes first come first serve.”

Did they ever solve the water intrusion at the Holman’s building? Is it the same soil conditions as this one with more underground parking?

After ongoing complaints by residents that it’s too large for its location, the developers behind Pacific Grove’s proposed Hotel Durell are once again working with the project’s architects to revise the hotel’s plans.

Proposed by property owner Nader Agha, the 125-room hotel would be located at 157 Grand Ave. on the block where the Holman Building is and where the Grand Central Station building currently stands. Plans for the future development that have already been revised include a restaurant, two conference rooms and an 88-space valet parking garage on the bottom level.